While there are players that go beyond what is expected of them, often known as “studs,” there are also those guys who are affectionately referred to as “duds.” These are the guys that fall short of all that is expected of them, enough to lose fans and even change teams.
Two studs stood out in the college ranks of the gridiron in 2011. First was fifth-year senior quarterback Russell Wilson for the University of Wisconsin. Wilson spent three years as the starter for North Carolina State University with decent success. After considering a career in professional baseball, he transferred to Wisconsin. Wilson’s statistics were sparkling. He completed 72.8 percent of his passes for 3,175 yards, 33 touchdowns and just four interceptions. That’s good for a career-high 191.8 QB rating. He even caught a touchdown pass and helped lead the Badgers to an 11-3 record, a Big Ten title and an appearance in the Rose Bowl.
Another stud was Clemson University true freshman wide receiver Sammy Watkins. Part of a Tigers team that started off hot by going 8-0 to start the season and won the ACC Championship, Watkins caught 82 balls for 1,219 yards and 12 touchdowns. His best game was against the defending champions Auburn University Sept. 17, 2011, when he had 10 receptions for 155 yards and two touchdowns. Watkins was named a first-team All-American all-purpose player by the Associated Press, the first true freshman to be named to an AP All-American team since Oklahoma’s Adrian Peterson in 2004.
In the NFL, probably the biggest surprise stud was New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz. The second-year undrafted wide receiver shocked the NFL with 1,536 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in the regular season. His success continued during the playoffs, as he caught a touchdown in the Super Bowl to help lead the Giants to their second championship in five years.
But we can’t all be studs. A dud found in the college ranks was the LSU Tigers. The way LSU played in the National Championship Game after an undefeated 12-0 regular season, including a win over Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, was embarrassing. The Tigers were shutout 21-0 in the BCS championship on Jan. 9 by the eventual BCS champions, the Alabama Crimson Tide and were unable to move the ball effectively under the coaching of Les Miles and the quarterbacking of Jordan Jefferson.
Two duds were Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson and the Philadelphia Eagles as a whole. Johnson, a top fantasy pick at the beginning of the year, had merely four touchdowns in a poor season for the Titans. The former East Carolina University standout rushed for just more than 1,000 yards in 2011, continuing a drop-off from his 2,000-yard season in 2009.
The Eagles were dubbed the “Dream Team” by backup quarterback Vince Young at the beginning of the season, but the team failed to hold up that moniker as the Eagles started the season 1-4. Their vaunted defense played okay, and they ended the season on a positive note, but their 8-8 record was one win short of the eventual champion Giants and way short of the preseason expectations placed on them.
It will be intriguing to see where these players and teams end up next season. With LSU looking for a new quarterback to replace Jefferson and the Eagles hoping Vick will remain healthy, the turn-arounds are possible.
But then again, so are repeat performances.